F 

INDIAN PLACE-NAMES 



IN EAST-HAMFTON TOWN, 



I WITH THEIE PEOBABLE SIGNIFICATIONS, 



-\\i 



-BY- 



WM. WALLACE TOOKER. 



Written for the East-Hampton Town Records, Vol. IV. 



SAG-HARBOR: 

r. H. HUNT, P.<INTEK. 



INDIAN PLACE-NAMES 



IN EAST-HAMPTON TOWN. 



WITH THEIR PEOBABLE SiaNIFICATIONS, 



— BY— 



WM. WALLACE TOOKER. 



Written for the East-Hampton Town Records, Vol. IV. 



sag-harbor: 
J. II. HUNT, PRINTER. 



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INDIAN PLACE-NAMES IN EAST-HAMPTON 
TOWN, L I„ WITH THEIR PROBA- 
BLE SIGNIFICATIONS, 

BY 

WM. WALLACE TOOKER, SAG-HARBOR, N. Y. 

That part of Long IsLi-nd now comprising the town of East- 
Hampton, was once the home of thj noted tribe of Indians, 
called the Montauks by the early settlers. Every sandy bluflf 
and shore bordering on the many tidal creeks, harbors and 
bays that indent this part of Long Island are whitened on 
every hand by the decayed shells and other refuse that mark 
their wampum manufactories and the wigwam sites of long 
ago. The neighboring sand -flats teeming then, as they do 
to-day, in marine products, was naturally a favorite resort of 
these primitive people. Gardiner's Bay and land adjoining 
was known to the Dutch traders as "the Crommegouw,". 
^•crooked country" or "district," and was described by them, 
long before the English settlement, "as being a fair and fertile 
land, inhabited by Indians, and where the greater part of the 
wampum was made, for which furs are traded." 

Montauk was not their tribal name, if indeed they ever 
possessed one, for Roger Williams says of the Rhode Island 
Indians : "they had no name to difftM-encc thorn from strang- 
ers, except that which signifies men, folke or pco;)lo, and the 
names that they take from their place of residence." This 
name, in the case of the Montauks, being the dc£ciiptive ap- 
pellation of their principal dwelling place, "the Meuntacut 
high-land," as it is called in the Indian deed of 1648, on which 
their palisadoed inclosures were situated. These stockades 



11 INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. 

are mentioned in the deed of 1661, viz: "on this side west- 
ward to the place where the old Indian fort stood, on the 
other side eastward to tlie new fort that is yet standing." 
The outlines of the latter (ISO feet square,) are still visible 
after a lapse of over two centuries, and inclose about forty 
Indian graves of a later date. The confederacy, (if we may 
so term it), of which these Indians formed a part, were gov- 
erned by four brothers, chiefs of the four eastern Long Island 
tribes, viz : the Manhansetts, Montauketts, Shinecocks and 
Corchaugs, with the eldest brother as the principal ruler, who 
was known as the Sachem of Paumanack, "land of tribute," 
or "contributing," as eastern Long Island was termed. This 
name was derived from the fact that they were at first under 
tribute to the Pequots in Connecticut, and afterwards to the 
United Commissioners at Hartford. In 1645 these four Sach- 
ems took under their protection all the other small tribes on 
the Island, as far west as the Rockaways in what is now 
known as Hempstead town. The vilhiges of the Unkechaugs, 
Secatogues, Setaukets, Rockaways, and the Mattinecocks, 
who then resided at Nissquogue, being especially mentioned. 
This protection and care was the reason why the settlers in 
the western part of the Island visited Three Mile Harbor, 
Montauk and other places in this town, in order to obtain the 
sign-manual of the Sachem of Paumanack (as Waiandance the 
Montauk chieftain was then called, after the death of his elder 
brother), to their deeds, befjre they could be recognized as 
valid instruments of transfer. 

The Montauks also belonged to the great Algic family, 
whose language was spoken, with dialectic variation, along 
the Atlantic coast from the icy shore of Labrador to the ver- 
dant groves of the Carolinas, and which, with slight change, 
is still spoken in the forests of Canada and on the shores of 
its great lakes. 

It is only by comparison with the vocabularies left by such 



INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. HI 

men as Williams, Cotton, Heckewelder, Zeisberger, Baraga, 
and the work done by J. Hammond Trumbull, LL. D., that 
we are able to obtain the probable meaning of these few local 
place-names, which are, with the exception of the meagre 
lists of words left by Gardiner, the 7th proprietor of Gardi- 
ner's Island, the sole mementoes of the Montauk dialect. 
These names are invariably descriptive of the locality, geo- 
graphically or otherwise, to which they were originally applied 
by the Indians, nothing poetical or romantic appearing in any 
of them. In giving these significations we use our best judg- 
ment, arrived at only by considerable study and research. 
Knowing well the localities, familiar from boyhood, has been 
of great assistance in studying out the reason why the names 
were so bestowed. At best, however, our efforts are only 
provisional, owing to the way our ancestors had of changing 
the names to suit their English pronunciation and to make 
them easy of utterance. When we find a simple English 
word spelled in three or four different forms in one deed, we 
cannot expect regularity in spelling the aboriginal. Fre- 
quently the early settlers gave the name of an Indian to the 
creek, swamp or tract of land where the native at one time 
erected his wigv^^am of rushes. Every instance of this kind 
is a barrier to the interpreter, for they differ from a place' 
name, and unless we find the name of the Indian mentioned 
in the early records (as in Georgica) we must remain some- 
what in doubt in regard to it. 

Frequently in searching the early records or deeds of the 
various towns on Long Island, we find tlio !n"!:inin^ of an Al- 
gonkin term suggested or expressed in Englisi Fjr instance, 
in the Montauk deed of 1670 appears tlio boundary-place 
Shahchippitchuge, "a place midway bet.v^L'i Fovt Pond and 
Great Pond." Analysis gives us Shah, "midway," chippit- 
chuge, "a separated place." The same suggestions appear 
in the other names in this deed, every one being bound marks 



IV inDIAN PLACE-NAMES. 

and evidently bestowed at the time of defining the boundaries 
before the deed was drawn. 

In regard to the degenerated remnant of the tribe now re- 
siding within the limits of the township, recognized by their 
characteristic aboriginal fealures, mixeil with negro, we would 
say that they have no knowledge of their native language, 
traditions or customs, all have been lost or forgotten years 
ago. With these few remarks we submit the names. 

Acahonach. — Neck of land, meadow and harbor in the 
northern part of the town, adjoining Gardiner's bay. The 
hamlet at this locality formerly called by the same name is 
now known as the "Springs," P. 0. The name probably at 
one time applied to a settlement of Indians who lived on what 
is sometimes called in the records "Acabonack Neck," near 
''Fire place." The early forms are Ackobonuk^ Occobonak_, 
Accobonock, etc. U. S. Coast Survey, Acabomock. The 
name Acqueb-omack signifies "place before (on this side of, 
or in front of) some other place." Perhaps the place before 
or opposite to Gardiner's Island. 

Aniagansett. — P. O. village. This place has been noted 
for its off shore whale fishing for many years. Many of the 
inhabitants gain their living from the neighboring wacers. 
N'amagan-es-et signifies, "at, about, or in the neighborhood 
of the fishing-place." Gardiner, in the "Chronicles of East- 
Hampton," derives the name from the Indian owner of the 
land. No doubt an error, as it cannot be authenticated. 
Same name with a prefix occurs in Rhode Island, viz : 
Mashaqu-amaganset, "the red (salmon) fishing place." 

Appa'qiwgue.—A farming locality in the western part of 
the town. Also known as the "Lily pond" at an early period. 
The name designates "a place where flags or rushes grow," 
"a lodge-covering place." The flags (cat-tail flag, Typha 
Latifolia) ■were used to ccvtr Ij.fir wigwrms, and for making 



INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. 



mats. It occurs in Southampton as a name for a creek ; now 
corrupted to Paucuck. 

Asliaivacjli.—k place at "Hand's Creek," Three Mil.? Har- 
bor. Probably the site of the Indian village between the 
branches of the creek, indicated by the large shell-heap at 
that point. The name means "a place between," "on the 
forks" (of a creek, etc ) and occurs as a place-name in many 
instances throughout New England. 

CliebiaUnnausn'k, ChaUaJcmnauhsulc. — A locality in the 
"North Neck," Montauk. One of the many outlets of the 
swamps in that section, and one of the boundaries of the pur- 
chase uf 1G70. Signifying "a long brook or small stream that 
divides or i^eparat-s one tract of land from another." "A long 
boundary brook." 

ChojypaiiJisJiajKmgausuc'k.—Thce on the east side of the 
"North Neck," ]\[ontauk, now known as the "Ditch Plain," 
and one of the boundaries mentioned in the deed of 1670. 
Choppausha-paugaus-suck means a "place separated where 
the outlet of a pond or some small stream widens or opens 
out." The ditch being the outlet of Great Pond on the south. 

Copeces.—k locality at the head of Three ISIile Harbor. 
The name designates "a little harbor," or "a little place of 
shelter," literally "a place shut in," and was probably the 
inner harbor which is shut in by two sandy points of land 
' with a small passage between. Evidences of Indian sojourns 
in time past are visible on all sides. 

Georgica. — A pond and locality in the west2rn part of the 
town adjoining the ocean. Derived from an Indian who 
formerly lived on what is called Georgica Neck. Early forms 
are Gorgika, Jorgke and Georgikey. This name (a personal 
one) is found on a whaling agreement of 1679, as Jeorgkee. 
See Vol. 2, p. 79. Its meaning has not been ascertained. 

Gunmmlis.—K swamp in the "North Neck," Montauk. A 
place in close proximity is also known as "Gunnunk's Gar- 



VI INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. 

den," so called from a sqnaw who formerly lived and planted 
there. Her name denotes ''the tall standing tree.'- 

KonliJionganiTv. — The southern part of Fort Pond, Montauk. 
This pond was the eastern limit of the purchase of 16G1, and 
the name Konkhongan-ut or it, signifies "^at th'e boundary." 
Forms of spelling are Konhunganit_, Konk-hung-gan-ock, etc. 

MalicliongUclinge. — A swamp in the "North Neck," Mon^ 
tauk, ''where the hay stacks stood," being one of the bound 
marks of the purchase of 1670. It means "the swamp where 
rushes grow," from the Narrag Machaug, "swamp," and MuS" 
kechoge, "place of rushes." Machaug-kechoge. 

MancJionaclv. — Gardiner's Island. The signification of this 
Indian name, as given to John Lyon Gardiner, the seventh 
proprietor of the Island, by a Montauk chief, was a "place 
where many have died." This is probably correct and no doubt 
the true meaning, for taken in its variations of spelling as 
found, it seems to be equivalent to a Narragansett term signi- 
fying "the land or place of the dead." 

Mammlcquiaiig. — A locality in the "North Neck," Montauk. 
This has been translated as "Menhaden country," no doubt 
incorrectly. It was the eastern limit or boundary of the pur- 
chase of 1670, mentioned in that deed as "being on the far- 
thest side the woods, growing on great pond eastward." 
Careful study show^s that it denotes "'as far as the land goes, " 
"limit or ending of the land." 

MirracldmiJiachy. — Dutch notation for Montauk. Found 
so recorded in a treaty of 1645, between the tribes and coun- 
cil of New Netherland. Given in DeKay's Indian names of 
L. I. as Merantahacky, "a place unknown on Long Island." 
See the following. 

Montaulcy MontauJcut. — The peninsula on the eastern end 
of the town. Probably the best known Indian place-name in 
the country. Its signification has been variously given. J. 
Hammond Trumbull, the eminent Algonkin scholar, in his 



INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. Vll 



''Names in Connecticut," says : "This name is probably a 
form of Manatuck, a name frequently bestowed on high or 
hilly land throughout New England, and denotes ^a place of 
observation,' 'a look-out,' 'a place for seeing (or to be seen) 
fnr off,' " and not as ho once believed from Manati, "island." 
Gardiner, in the "Chronicles of East-Hampton," 1S40 and 
1S7I, and Ayers, in the ''Legends of Montauk," ]849, trans- 
lates it as "the hilly land or country," from having been called 
in deeds and elsewhere "the Meuntacut high land." The 
writer would suggest another derivation, one that is more 
probable than either the above, and has tradition and history 
to support it. The early forms of the name (see Vols. I, II 
III of these Records, and the other early records of the Long 
Island towns), are Meantaquit, Meuntacut, Meuntauket, Meun- 
taukut, etc., which are synonymous with the Delaware (Zeis- 
berger), Moenachk-et or Menachk-ut, "at the fort," or "fort 
place." The Dutch form Mirrachtauhacky, finds its pJirallel 
partly in the iMass., (Cotton) and partly in the Del. Menehke- 
tau-hacky, "fortified country," or "fort country." With this 
meaning the quotation from the deed of 1648 would be "un- 
to the fort-place high land." The fort at that period having 
been located directly on the boundary now marked by a gran- 
ite post and a pile of stones, where the Nominick hills rise, 
(see sale of Montauk with map, 1S79). The second fort is 
now perpetuated in "Fort Pond" and "Fort Pond Bay." 

Munclwg, MuncJioagc, Manclioagc. — Now known as the 
"Great Pond Island," Montauk. "Trustees ordered that notice 
be given for the sale of liberty to mow what mowable grass 
may be found within the Indian field, provided they the buy- 
ers cut no other than where the rushes grow, and also what 
if any kind may be found mowable on the Island in the great 
pond called Munchoag." Aug. 30th, 1709. See Vol. Ill, p. 
2] 6. This name probably signifies "an island of meadow," 
"a place where rushes grow," from Munni, "island," muske- 



Vlll INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. 

choge, "rushes," "place of rushes," "a meadow." Large part 
of its area being rushes and marsh. Moriches Island, Brook- 
haven town, was called Kitcha-minchog, ^'the great Island 
meadow or place of rushes," etc. See Mahchongitchuge. 

Neapeague, (Nap-peeg.)— The long beach that connects the 
high land of Montauk with the Island at the Amagansett hills. 
The name signifies "the water land," and well describes its 
appearance, being a dreary stretch of sand and marsh. 

NominicJv, NommonocJc. — Hills at the western end of Mon- 
tauk. These hills rise from the dreary waste of Neapeague 
beach, and can be seen from a long distance both by land and 
water. The name Naumun auke signifies "land to be seep, 
or seen," (from afar.) 

Pantego, Fantigo. — A locality short distance east of East- 
Hampton village^ on the road to Amagansett. Hon. Henry 
P. Hedges regards the name as being the 'same as the English 
pant-I-go, from some local happening, and not aboriginal as 
supposed. Similar names occur in other parts of the United 
States. 

JBotinacli. — A depression or hollow on the south side of 
Montauk, in the "Hither Woods," west of the U. S. L. S. 
Station, on "Hither Plains," It is sometimes called "Potinack 
hole." The Indian name describes the locality "where the 
land sinks or bulges in." A watering place at Amagansett is 
also known as Potinack hole. 

Quadams. — Hill in the "Indian Field" near the Oyster 
Pond, Montauk. From the mark of the English possessive, 
probably so called from some Indian named "Quadam" who 
lived on or near the hill. 

QuammtotvimJc, Quannontoivounh . — The name of the north- 
ern part of Fort Pond, Montauk. Has been misapplied by 
historians and others to Fresh Pond on the western end, but 
the deed of 1661 says, "the name of the pond (Fort Pond) 
being Quanuntowunk on the north, and Konkhonganik on the 



INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. ix 

south." (Hedges' address, East-Hampton Bi-centennial, 1849. 
Sanger's deeds of Montauk, 1S50.) The significations some- 
times found for this name, "the haunts of the fish-hawk," and 
"where there is a fence," are evidently wrong. The name 
probably refers to the long ditch or outlet of the pond, now 
partially closed, which crosses the beach at this point. It 
was through this outlet that the Indians formerly dragged 
their canoes back and forth from the pond to the bay. The 
name seems to be compounded from Quannon "long," towunk 
"a ford" or "wading place." "The long ford or wading place." 
Towounk or Towunk as a name of a wading place is found 
in the name "Towd," Southampton, and in "Toyongs," "To- 
youngs" 01 "Towungs," the Indian name of "Red Creek," 
Southampton town. 

ShagtvannocTc, (Shag-wom.) — Hills, point of land, and reef 
of rocks on the north side of the "Indian fields," Montauk. 
The hills are the highest on Montauk. On their slopes the 
Indian huts were erected and occupied until recently. Now 
they have disappeared, a low mound and shallow excavation 
alone mark their sites. The various forms of spelling, beside 
the above, are Shagwong, Shangwong, Shagwauac, etc. The 
name is probably the same as the Delaware Schajawong, with 
the locative suffix, "place on the side of a hill." 

SliahcMppitcImge.—K place on the "North Neck," Montauk. 
Being a pile of stones midway between Great Pond and Fort 
Pond, to mark a boundary as given in the deed of 1670, known 
as the nine-score acre purchase, or land between the ponds. 
The name denotes, "the midway place of separation." 

Wainscoit. — Earlier, Wayinscot, Wayunscut and Wainscut. 
A farming district and pond in the eastern part of the town, 
adjoining the ocean. The "Chronicles of East-Hampton,^' 
derive the name from the Indian owner of the land. The 
authority for this cannot be found. Analysis of Indian names 
by Dr. J. H. Trumbull would make the name Waen-omsk-ut 



X INDIAN PLACE-NAMES. 

"where a creek, road or path winds or goes by a rock." 
Same name occurs in North Providence, R. I. 

Wamponamon. — The eastern end of Montauk where the 
Light House stands. ''Neck of Montaukut from sea to sea, 
from the utmost end of the neck eastward, called Wompcnan- 
it," deed 1661. Also Wompenoonot, later Wamponamon. 
The name signifies ''at the east," or "eastward." 

Wegivaganuclc, Wlgivagonoch. — That part of Sag-Harbor ly- 
ing in East-Hampton. The name probably designated the 
Indian village now indicated by the remains of the large 
shell heap at the foot of Sleight's hill, on land belonging to 
Mrs. Fanny R. Harrison, and to the heirs of the late Wm. R. 
Sleight. The greater part of this village site has been carted 
away to fill up the adjoining meadow. The name Wequae- 
adn-auke signifies "land or place at the end of the hill." The 
same is found in Sharon, Conn., as Wegnagnock. 

WucliebeJisucli. — A valley on the "North Neck," Montauk, 
being the north-west boundary of the "land between the 
ponds," purchased in 1670, "'bounded by Wuchebehsuck, a 
place by the Fort Pond, being a valley southward from the 
fort hills pond." The name Wutchebeh-suck denotes "at the 
bound-mark brook" or "outlet," "the brook that divides," or 
the division brook." Eliot in his Indian Bible, 1663, uses, 
almost the same prefix for divided, in Genesis 1 chap., 4 v., 
"and God divided the light from the darkness." At certain 
seasons of the year a small stream flows through this valley, 
fed by the numerous swamps, lily ponds, etc., that are to be 
fonnd in the vicinity. 



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